Device for removing the ends of cans



Dec. 15, 1953 H. c. WILSON 2,662,279

DEVICE FOR REMOVING THE ENDS OF CANS Filed NOV. 18, 1946 4 2 Sheets-5h86?, 1

/Nl/ENTOZ www @from/Er K Dec. 15, 1953 H. c. WILSON 2,662,279

DEVICE EoR REMovING THE ENDS oE cANs Filed Nov. 18, 194e 2 sheets-sneer 2 A25/:Holz BY A E /j MM TTENE Y Patented Dec, l5, 1953 DEVICE FOR REMOVING THE ENDS OF CAN S Harry C. Wilson, Sherman Oaks, Calif., assignor to Robert H. Clark, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 18, 1946, Serial No. 710,725

2 Claims. i

This invention has to do with a device for removing the ends of cans and it is a general object of the invention to provide a simple, practical, easily operated device that acts on an ordinary can to open it by shearing action and by cutting the side wall of the can immediately beneath the bead at the top end so that the said bead, together with the top of the can, is severed from the side wall.

It is well known that many products, and particularly food products, are packed in cans and it is customary for the upper end of a can to be joined to the side wall by a simple bead. Can openers of various kinds have been proposed and used, ordinary devices of this kind being such as to cut the top of a can immediately inside the bead. The ordinary can opening in cutting the end of the can away from the bead usually drops the end of the can into the contents as `the cut is completed, and it is not uncommon for the cutting operation to be such as to create cuttings or slivers which enter the can to contaminate the contents.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a can opening device which acts on or cuts the side wall of the can and not the top thereof, and which acts on the side wall to cut in immediately beneath the bead of the top of the can, with the result that the bead is removed with the top and the parts thus cut away do not drop I into the opened can.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a can opener of the general chai'- acter referred to which operates to cut the can by a shearing action and in such manner as to make a clean smooth cut without forming cuttings or slivers such as are commonly formed by can opening devices.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a can opener of the general character referred to which neatly and cleanly severs the top of a can from the body thereof so the bead is removed with the top and without introducing any cutting parts. guides, or other elements into the can to touch or contaminate the contents l 2 parts that are simple and inexpensive of manufacture and the complete device is such that it is very easy to assemble and to mount for operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unique mounting for the can opening mechanism enabling it to be conveniently applied to shelves or cupboards such as are commonly available where can openers are desired for use.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 7

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a can opening device embodying the present invention, showing it mounted on a. vertical support and in position ready for operation on a can. Fig. 2 is a view showing the manner in which the can opening device that I have provided may be applied to a typical cupboard in which case it can be mounted on the inside of the cupboard door, the device in the figure being illustrated in a collapsed or folded position so that it occupies a minimum of space in the cupboard when the cupboard door is closed. Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the device applied to a horizontal support or shelf-like part and showing the device folded out or ready for operation. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the device. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device, being a View taken substantially as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of a part of the device being a View taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 5. Fig. '7 is a longitudinal detailed sectional View of a part of the device, being a view taken substantially as indicated by line 1-1 on Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a plan section taken as indicated by line 8--8 on Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a View taken as indicated by line 9-9 on Fig. 7, Figs. 7, 8 and 9 showing the device in its normal unactuated position. Fig. 10 is a View simiiar to Fig. 8 showing the parts in a partially operated position. Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9, showing the parts operated as they are illustrated in Fig. 10. Fig. l2 is an enlarged detailed sectional View of a portion of Fig. '7 showing the bead of a can initially introduced into the device ready for operation, being a view taken as indicated by line |2-I2 on Fig. 9. Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the relationship of the parts when the device is operating to cut or shear the side wall of the can adjacent the bead, being a view taken as indicated by line I3-I3 on Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional View taken as indicated by line IIa- '11 on Fig. 8 and Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the spring illustrated in Figs. 8 and 14.

The device that I have provided is useful generally for opening cans and is intended primarily for use in opening cans wherein the end to be removed is joined to the body of a can by a bead. I have in the drawings illustrated a form of the invention designed to handle the ordinary or standard can. However, it is to be understood that I do not wish the inventionunderstood as limited to use in connection with any one particular form or type of can since I contemplate that variations and modifications may be made in the construction to accommodate it to cans of various forms, types or sizes, since the structure is applicable, generally, to that type of can ywherein the end is held or mounted through a bead.

In the drawings I have illustrated a form of my invention particularly suited for use in a kitchen Where cans of food stuff are commonly opened and I have illustrated a form of my invention adapted to be mounted in various manners to be advantageously employed in a kitchen orr the like. As will be seen from Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, I have provided a construction enabling the device to be mounted on a vertical support such as awall or the door of a cupboard or upon a horizontal support such as a shelf or the like.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I show the manner in which the device is applicable to a vertical support or wall W and when so applied can be normally folded up againstthe wall and when desired for use it can be folded down to a position where it projects from the wall, as shown in Fig.:1.

.In Fig. 2 of the drawings I have shown the device applied to the door D of a cupboard C, the device being applied to the inner side ofthe door so that it can be folded up to be compact with the ydoor when-the door is closed, as shown in Fig. 2, and so that it can be folded down to operating position when the cupboard door is open, in

which case it will take a position relative to the l zontal support or shelf S which may be a shelf l within a cupboard C 0r an open shelf such as may be available. When applied as illustrated in Fig. 3 the device may be normally folded back or in aga-inst the top of the shelf or it may be folded out to an operating position such as is shown in Fig. 3. AIt is to be observed that the mounting construction that I have provided enables the device to be effectively mounted in the various manners above referred to without any alteration or variation of the construction.

The structure that I have provided involves, generally, a main part or base plate I0, mounting means I I by which the base plate I 0 is secured to a suitable support such as a wall W, door D, or shelf S, a shear member I2 carried by the plate ID, a feed member I3 carried by the plate I0, operating means I4 for the feed member I3, and means I5 operable to veffect relative movement between the shear member I2 and the feed member I3 so these parts shift relative to each other between an open position where the bead of a can can be admitted between them and a closed or operating position where the bead of a can is confined and the side wall of a can is sheared upon operation of the feed member. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention I may shift either the shear member I2 relative to the feed member, or I may shift the feed member relative to the shear member. However, since the latter movement is generally desirable I have preferred to illustrate a form of the invention wherein I shift the feed member relative to the shear member.

The main element or base plate III is preferably a simple, flat sheet metal part which when the device is in operating position is in a substantially horizontal plane so that it has a top IB and a bottom I'I. In the case illustrated the plate is an elongate member or is in the form of a strip of sheet metal of suitable weight to provide a rigid support or carrier for the various other parts of the mechanism. The mounting means II may vary widely in form and construction and where the device is to be used under particular circumstances or in a particular situation it will be apparent that the mounting means may be formed and designed to most advantageously fit such situations.

In accordance with my invention I provide a mounting means I I which can be used to advantage in mounting the device under varying circumstances; for instance, either on a vertical support or on a horizontal support. In its preferred form the means I I is a hinge means, one element I8 of which may be an extension of the plate I9 while the other element I9 may be a simple flat mounting plate applicable to a suitable support by means of suitable fastening means such as screws 2G. The elements I8 and I9 are pivotally connected by a hinge pin 2|. The element I8 which is preferably an extension or continuation of the plate ID extends in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the Aplate or is formed so that its main portion, which is joined to the pivot pin 2 I, is substantially normal to the plate I. The outer portion 22 which joins to the plate I is preferably arcuate in form or curved and forms a stop to bear against a vertical support when the device is in operating position, as vshown in Fig. 1. The curved stop portion 22 is removed from the hinge pin 2l to form an effective bearing support stopping the pivotal movement with the plate I0 in the desired position relative to the support.

In practice I prefer to form and relate the parts so that the plate I0 is stopped in a substantially horizontal position. In the drawings, for instance in Figs. l, 3 and 5 of the drawings, I have shown the plate I0 stopped so that it is at a slight angle or extends forward and somewhat upward it having been found that this positioning of the plate facilitates convenient application of a can to the device. When I refer to the plate IIJ as being substantially horizontal I mean to include slightly angular mounting of the plate such as I have shown in the drawings.

The flat portion of section I8 of means I I which extends substantially normal to the plate I0 is preferably proportioned to act as a stop to bear against the edge of a shelf S when the device is applied to the shelf in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. It is desirable, in practice, that this part of the section I8 be varied somewhat from a true normal position relative to the plate I0 so that the plate pitches slightly upward, as shown in Fig. 3. The outermost part of the section I8 is turned or deflected at I8a as shown in the drawings so that the hinge point and the pin 2l may be moved in from the edge of a shelf S as shown in Fig. 3.

The shear member I2 is carried by the plate I0 at the lower or bottom side thereof and it is provided primarily to present a shearing edge to shear the side wall A of a can immediately adjacent the bead B of the can. In the preferred form of the invention the shear member I2 is a round fiat roller element or is disc-like so that the desired shearing edge 24 is established between the top side of said disc and the periphery 25 thereof, the periphery being wide and substantially at right angles to the top side. The shear roller is mounted from the plate IG to lie in a plane parallel with that of the plate but spaced somewhat below the plate so that the shear edge 24 is spaced far enough below the bottom I'I of the plate to admit the bead B of the can between the plate and the shear roller. The periphery of the roller bears on the outer side of the can. The desired shear edge 24 may be provided by establishing the periphery of the shear roller at right angles to the top surface. In the preferred form of the invention I pitch or taper the periphery 25 of the shear roller so that it is somewhat larger in diameter at the upper end of the disc than it is at the lower end and I bevel the edge portion 25 of the top of the shear roller slightly so that it is substantially normal to the periphery 25, as clearly illustrated in Figs. l2 and 13 of the drawings.

When I employ a roller as the shear member I2 I support it so that it is free to rotate and when I arrange the parts so that the feed member I3 shifts relative to the shear member I may mount the shear member from the plate It by means of a simple pivot. As shown in`the drawings the pivot for the shear roller has a bearing portion on which the roller rotates, has a lower end 3| in the form of a head that retains the shear roller on the bearing 30, and has a threaded upper end 32 engaged in a suitable opening 32a provided in .plate It). To maintain the shear roller in the desired spaced relation with the plate Ill I provide a spacer 33 between the plate and the roller which spacer may be a washerlike member carried on the pivot, as clearly illustrated throughout the drawings. In the preferred construction the upper end portion of the L.

pivot which extends through the spacer and into the plate I is reduced in diameter forming a shoulder 34 which serves to clamp the spacer tight against the plate ID leaving the roller with the desired clearance between the spacer and the head 3 I so that it rotates freely.

The feeder I3 is supported by or from the plate I0 toward the outer end of the plate from the shear roller and so that it is opposite the spacer 33 or immediately above the shear edge 24, as shown throughout the drawings. The feeder is preferably a round member or wheel designed to engage the bead B of the can at the inner side thereof to hold the bead over the peripheral portion of the shear roller and to confine the bead between it and the spacer so that as it is ro tated it advances the can relative to the shear roller, causing the side wall A of the can to be sheared away from the bead as illustrated in the drawings. In its preferred form the periphery of the feed member is roughened or toothed as illustrated in the drawings, so that it has effective gripping engagement with the bead of the can. By providing the feed member I3 with gripping teeth 38 such as are shown in the drawings, the member engages the bead B without slipping.

The feed member I3 is mounted or supported from the plate IIJ for rotation and in the preferred construction it is carried on a shaft it rotatably supported by the plate IG and is adapted to be rotated by a handle 4I applied to the shaft.

The shaft 40 extends vertically through the plate andthe feed member I3 is suitably secured or made fast to the lower end of the shaft to be immediately adjacent the bottom I'I of the plate. The handle 4I is located above the plate I0 and has a hub portion 43 Xed to the upper end of the shaft 40 and an arm portion 44 extending substantially parallel with the 4plate Il) in a plane overlying it as clearly shown in the drawings. A suitable knob 45 may be provided on the outer end of the arm 44. In the particular case illustrated in the drawings the handle 4I is a cast element and the desired connection is established between the shaft and the handle by providing a knurled end 45 on the shaft and casting the handle onto the knurled end of the shaft. When this particular construction is employed it is desirable to releasably connect the feed member I3 and the shaft 40. For instance, as shown in the drawings the member I3 may be threaded onto a reduced end portion 41 of the shaft.

Where the feed member I3 is not only to rotate but is t-o shift bodily relative to the shear member as I have above pointed out, it is desirable to carry the shaft 4D in an opening in the plate I0 which not only allows the shaft to rotate but also allows it to shift laterally or in the plane of the plate I8. To provide for such operation and movement of the member I3 I provide a slot 50 e in the plate through which the shaft 40 extends so that it can rotate and which is of such length or extent as to allow the shaft bodily to move or shift. The slot may be a simple straight slot located in the plate I0 outward of the opening 32e that carries the pivot supporting the shear member. The slot has what I will term outer and inner end portions 5I and 52, respectively, and it is so located or pitched relative to the opening 32 or the axis of the shear member that theouter end portion 5I is further from the axis of the shear member than is the inner end portion 52. The shaft 48 is freely slidable lengthwise of .the slot between an out position where it supports the feed member I3 where it is spaced radially from the shear member leaving an opening between the feed member and shear member through which the bead of a can can be passed, and an in or operating position where the feed member I3 overlies the peripheral portion of the shear member so that the wall A of rthe can at the point where the members I2 and I3 occur is necessarily sheared from the bead B, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 13 of the drawings.

The means I5 operates to effect shifting of the feed member I3 relative to .the shear member I2 to move the shear member from the out position to the in or operating position as operation of the device is initiated or, in other words, during initial turning movement lof handle 4I. In the preferred form of the invention the means I5 a cam means and it so formed and constructed as to not oniv effect the desired shifting of the member I3 relative to member I2 but also acts to hold the member I3 in the in or operating position as the device continues in operation. The means i5 in the form illustrated in the drawings involves a cam disc t@ related to the member I3 to move or operate therewith and an abutment 5I cooperating with the cam disc. In the preferred arrangement of parts the cam disc 6B and abutment 5I are located at the upper side of plate le and it is convenient to house them within or to locate them beneath the hub portion i3 of handle 4I. In the preferred form of the invention the cam disc B is formed asa sep' arate element applied'to a shaft 40 andheld by thehub portion 43 of the handle lII so .that it becomes a part of the fixed or rigid unit comprisingthe member I3, shaft 40and handle 4I. The cam disc has a central opening 62 passing the 'shaft `lil so that it is centralized relative to the shaft'and it has a. Vplurality of spaced openings 63 .receiving lugs S4 projecting from the hub of the4 handle which lugs form driving members keying the cam disc to the hub 43, to rotate therewith.

The abutment 6I that cooperates with the cam disc is carried by the plate I and as shown in the drawings it may be in the'form of a pin projecting from the top I6 of the plate ID at a suitable xed position relativetothe slot U.

`In practice the cam disc 60 may be varied in form or shape, depending upon the actions'to be gained therefrom. However, when it is to perform the functions above outlined and is also to aid in returning the feed member I3 to its out position, as shown in Fig. '7, it is preferred to form the cam disc so that it has a rim or periphery 'I0 concentric with the axis of shaft 4D. A curved or helically shaped notch 'II is formed in the disc from its periphery establishing an inner helical surface i2 that cooperates with the abutment pin 6I in moving the shaft 4I! from the outer end of the slot 5D .to the inner end thereof and an outer helical face 'I3 which cooperates with the abutment pin 6I in moving the shaft 40 from the inner end of the slot 5I) to the outer end thereof.

When the parts are in the normal or unactuated position illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 the abutment pin 6I is at the inner end of the helical notch 'II, the shaft IQ is at the outer end 5I of slot 50, and the feed member I3 is spaced outfrom the outer end 5| of the slot to the inner l' end 52 thereof. By the time the shaft 40 has reached the inner end 52 of slot 5B the feed member I3 has been shifted toward the shear member I2 until it overlies the peripheral portion of the shear member and a bead B ofv a can initially located as shown in Fig. l2 is crowded to the position shown in Fig. 13 Where it is clamped between the feed member I3 and the spacer 33. As the parts move to this inner or operating position shear edge 2A. of shear member I2 cuts the side Wall A of the can immediately adjacent the bead.

It will be understood that as the partsare thus moved from the out position to the in or operating position the feed member I3 is being rotated and consequently as soon as it has sufficient bearing engagement with the bead of the can it causes the bead of the can to be fed so the can rotates on its axis with the result that the shearing of the side wall A is greatly expedited. After the parts have reached the full working position illustrated in Fig. 13 continued rotation of the handle 4I in a clockwise direction causes the feed member I3 to continue to rotate and to continue to' feed the bead of the can so the can is rotated and the side wall sheared. The periphery 'I0 of the cam disc is relatedto the abutment pin 6I so that as the handle continues to rotate these parts cooperate to hold the feed member in the workingV condition illustrated in Fig. 13. This is true at all' times except as the mouth of the notch 1I passes the abutment member. jI have found, however, that in practice it is unnecessary topositively maintain the parts in the in or Working position more than I do by providing the cam'disc cooperating with the abutment pin as hereinabove described.

When the cutting operation has been `completed, that is, when the bead of the can has been completely severed from the side wall, the can is freely removable from the top and bead being cut away from these parts leaving the bead clamped inthe position illustrated in Fig. 13. To release the bead and make the device ready for another operation the handle 4I is reversed or moved ina counter-clockwise direction. To assure release of the bead under this condition I induce outward movement of the shaft in the slot 5I) so that it moves from the inner end 52 to the outer end 5I thereof. In the preferred form of the invention I provide a drag means to cause the desired movement of the shaft in the slot and this drag means involves a simple crimped or bent leaf spring SII inserted between the top of the plate I0 and the bottom of the cam disc 60.

The spring is held in a xed position relative to the plate Ill and engages the bottom face of the cam disc 60 so that it tends to hold or clamp the cam disc at one side and at a point around the cam disc so that as the cam disc `is moved in a counterclockwise direction the shaft 40 free in the slot 59 tends to move out in the slot and starts out in the slot 50 when the mouth of the notch 'II comes opposite the abutment pin I; I, with the result that the pin 6I enters the notch II and the outer helical wall I3 of the notch positively feeds the shaft out in the slots of the outer end 5I thereof.

The spring 80 is present at all times between the plate I0 and cam disc and maintains a certain amount of drag or friction in the mechanism preventing undesirable looseness of parts. In practice I may mount the spring 8l) in` any suitable'manner. For instance, as shown in the drawings, it has an opening at one endthrough which the abutment pin 6I is passed and it has an ear 86 at the other end that enters a suitably located aperture 81 in the plate IU.

From the foregoing description it will be. apparent that I have, by my present invention, provided a structure which cannot. only be mounted in` a most advantageous and convenient manner but which also involves few simple, easily operated parts which serve to eectively and neatly shearthe side wall A of the can immediately beneath the bea-d B without introducing any ,part or parts into the can itself.

In operating the device after it has been posi tioned with the body substantially horizontal and with the handle 4I in the normal unactuated position illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5y `and 7 of the drawings, it is a very simple matter to introduce the bead B of a can between the shear member I2 and feed member I3. As the handle 4I is rotated in a clockwise direction the initial movement causes the feed member I3 to shift relative to the shear member I2 until it assumes full operating position such as is shown in Fig. 13, whereupon continued rotation of the handleV I4 causes shearing of the side wall A until the bead is completely severed from the side wall. When the cutting operation has been completed simple return of the handle to the normal position or a counterclockwise movement of the handle back to the position 'shown in Figs. l to 5 and '7 inclusive, returns the feed member I3 to its out position, freeing the bead of the can and making the device ready for another operation.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specic details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A can opener including, a plate having a slot therein, a disc-shaped frusto-conical shear member rotatably supported with a peripheral shear edge spaced below the plate and below the upper surface of the member, said upper surface having a chamfered peripheral edge portion, a shaft rotatable and shiftable in the slot, a feed wheel on the shaft below the plate, a handle onthe shaft above the plate, and cam means operating with the shaft to shift the shaft in the slot to move the wheel toward the shear member including a disc-shaped cam part surrounding the shaft and driven by the handle, a projection on the plate cooperating with the cam part, the cam part having a circular edge concentric with the shaft and a curved notch extending inwardly from the edge, and a member inserted between the cam part and plate creating drag between the cam part and the plate.

2. A can opener including, a plate having a slot therein, a projection on the plate, a discshaped, frusto-conical shear member having a chamfered peripheral edge portion at its upper surface, said member being rotatably supported 10 with a peripheral shear edge defined by the tapered periphery and said edge portion spaced below the plate and below the upper surface, a shaft rotatable and shiftable in the slot, a feed wheel on the shaft below the plate, a handle having a hub above the plate and carrying the shaft, and cam means carried by and located wholly beneath the hub to shift the shaft in the slot to move the wheel toward the shear member including a disc-shaped cam part surrounding the shaft and driven by the hub and cooperatively engaging the projection on the plate, the cam part having a circular edge concentric with the shaft and a curved notch ex tending inwardly from the edge, and a drag spring conned between the cam part and the plate and frictionally engaging the edge portion of the cam.

HARRY C. WILSON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,230,678 Cowan June 19, 1917 1,393,159 Percy et al Oct. 11, 1921 1,556,162 Rocklin Oct. 6, 1925 1,742,140 Girard et al. Dec. 31, 1929 r1,945,137 Dahl Jan. 30, 1934 2,119,135 Link May 31, 1938 2,351,531 McLean June 13, 194,4 2,409,152 Rundell Oct. 8, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 367,177 Great Britain Feb. 18, 1932 

